WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Ky`to*plas"ma
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [NL., fr. Gr. (Biol.)
Definition : Defn: See Karyoplasma.

L

1. L is the twelfth letter of the English alphabet, and a vocal consonant. It is usually called a semivowel or liquid. Its form and value are from the Greek, through the Latin, the form of the Greek letter being from the Phoenician, and the ultimate origin prob. Egyptian. Etymologically, it is most closely related to r and u; as in pilgrim, peregrine, couch (fr. collocare), aubura (fr. LL. alburnus).

Note: At the end of monosyllables containing a single vowel, it is often doubled, as in fall, full, bell; but not after digraphs, as in foul, fool, prowl, growl, foal. In English words, the terminating syllable le is unaccented, the e is silent, and l is preceded by a voice glide, as in able, eagle, pronounced a''b'l, ''g'l. See Guide to Pronunciation, ? 241.

2. As a numeral, L stands for fifty in the English, as in the Latin language. For 50 the Romans used the Chalcidian chi, I. Taylor (The Alphabet).
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913